Ratchet-wrench.



NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDISON M. WICKER, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

RATCHET-WRENCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EoIsoN M. WICKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ratchet wrenches, the object of the inventionbeing to provide a wrench which may be operated to turn a nut or otherobject in either direction, and which embodies a novel construction ofoperating handle which may be arranged in longitudinal alinement with orat an angle to the bar or shank of the wrench.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view,partially in section, of a ratchet wrench embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, my improved wrench comprises an operatingshank or bar 1, provided at its outer end with a circular head orbearing sleeve 2 and at its inner or rear end with an actuating crank orhandle 3. The said handle 3 is provided with a tongue or reduced end 4which fits within a slot 5 in the end of the bar 1 and is pivotallymounted therein on a pivot pin or connection 6, so that it may be swungto a position at right angles to the bar as shown in full lines in Fig.1, or in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the bar, as shown indotted lines in said figure, thus disposing it for convenient use underdifferent conditions of service. Formed in the tongue 4 are spaced seatsor recesses 8 and 9 adapted to be engaged by a locking pin 10 slidablymovable upon the bar and provided with a shoulder 11 and a finger piece12. Secured to the bar is a spring strip 13 having a forked free endengaging the pin between said shoulder and finger piece and normallyserving to hold the pin in locking position. By means of this lockingdevice the handle 3 may be fixed in either of its operative positions,as will be readily understood.

A socket 14 is fixed to and extends laterally from the bearing head 2and receives a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 1, 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911. Serial No. 520,481.

circular jaw or chuck 15 provided with an annular groove 16 receivingthe inner ends of retaining pins or screws 17 mounted on the socket,whereby the chuck is held against longitudinal displacement, whilepermitted to have rotary motion, the groove being wide enough, however,to permit the chuck to have a limited longitudinal sliding motion. Oneend of the chuck extends through the head 2 and is provided with anannular stop flange 18 bearing against the side of the head opposite thesocket 14, and on the portion of the chuck inclosed within the head aretwo annular sets of ratchet teeth 19 and 20, having their acting facesprojecting in reverse directions.

The forward portion of the head 2 is formed with a transverse slot 21covered by a guide plate 22 in which is a slot 23. Through the slot 23projects a screw stem 24 carrying at its inner end a dog or pawl 25 toengage the sets of ratchet teeth. A spring 26 surrounds the stem betweenthe dog and the plate to permit the dog to have resilient movement toslide over the curved faces of the ratchet teeth with which it isengaged. A nut 27 engages the outer end of the stem and forms a fingerpiece by which the dog may be adjusted and the tension of the springregulated. The chuck or jaw 15 is provided with an angular socket orpassage to receive a nut or other object to be turned.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the actuatinghandle 3 may be arranged in either operative position disclosed ascircumstances may require and that by means thereof the bar 1 may beoscillated to transmit intermittent rotary motion through the pawl andratchet connec tion to the chuck 15. By means of the sliding engagementof the pawl with the guide plate 22, it will be apparent that the pawlmay be adjusted across the surface of the toothed portion of the jawinto position for eoiiperation with either set of ratchet teeth. Hence,as the faces of these teeth incline in reverse directions, the pawl maybe adjusted for cotiperation therewith to turn the jaw or chuck ineither direction when oscillatory motion is imparted to the bar 1. Asimple and convenient construction of reversible ratchet wrench is thusprovided which may be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

I claim A ratchet wrench comprising a bar havmg a laterally extendingbearing portion at one end thereof, a slotted guide plate upon saidbearing portion, a chuck detachably and rotatably mounted in saidbearing portion 5 and provided With sets of ratchet teeth inclined inreverse directions, a stem slidably' mounted in the slotted guide plate,a dog carried by the stem and adjustable thereby for cooperation witheither set of ratchet 10 teeth, a spring surrounding the stem between

